I have an aversion to mysteries where cats, dogs, and other creatures solve crimes. So you can imagine my reaction when Diane said, “Let’s go see The Sheep Detectives.”
Life is all about compromise–and Diane is coming with me to see The Mandalorian and Grogu later this week–so away we went to our local AMC Theater. Diane will watch anything with Hugh Jackman in it and I feel the same way about Emma Thompson.
Hugh Jackman plays a Shepard named George who loves his sheep and names all of them. His favorite is Lily. George reads mystery novels to his sheep and Lily (voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) can solve the mystery before George gets to the Big Reveal every time!
(Mild Spoiler Alert!) George gets murdered and the sole policeman–Officer Tim Derry (Nicholas Braun)–in the small English town of Denbrook…is baffled. So Lily and her sheep pals of the flock– Sebastian (Bryan Cranston) and Mopple (Chris O’Dowd)–to help him find the murderer.
The suspects include an innkeeper (Hong Chau) with a crush on George, a minister (Kobna Holdbrook-Smith) who was accepting large cash payments from George for an unknown reason, a neighboring shepherd (Tosin Cole) who George considered a “Bad Shepherd”, a butcher aptly named Ham (Conleth Hill), and George’s not-seen-in-many-years daughter from America, Rebecca (Molly Gordon).
Based on Leonie Swann’s Three Bags Full, The Sheep Detectives follows a the similar pattern as Babe. Director Kyle Balda (an animation specialist who has co-directed three features in the “Despicable Me” universe), went with a throwback feel to the movie with the exception of the digital sheep. Diane and I both enjoyed the verbal interplay between the sheep as they worked on their investigation. If you’re looking for something different, give The Sheep Detectives a try. GRADE: A
I totally agree with you about animal “detectives.” I agree with the late Ellen Nehr, who said, “I hate to mention this, but I’m getting pretty darn sick of cutesy cats all over the place. One cat per book is enough, but CATS DON’T TALK, CATS DON’T THINK, and CATS DON’T DETECT!”
But everyone who has seen this has liked it, and Jackie agrees with Diane about Hugh Jackman.
Jeff, I think THE SHEEP DETECTIVES is an exception to the ANIMALS DON’T DETECT rule. It’s a clever movie!
There would be worse ways to spend an hour or so contemplating Ms. Hong Chau, Emma Thompson and some of the other cast while an amusing comedy mystery plays.
Cats think, but aren’t too interested in working out mysteries that don’t lead immediately to food nor fun.
And cats definitely talk, but no, not in English. At least, I’ve never met Saki’s Tobermory nor Sturgeon’s Fluffy. They are very keen on having their needs and whims met, and not at all shy about vocalizing to that end. Our elder cat is very fastidious about her litter box, and makes sure I’m aware when it has been put to any use, for example.
Todd, I don’t know about cats, but I learned a lot about a flock in THE SHEEP DETECTIVES.
Todd, I don’t know about cats, but I was convinced watching THE SHEEP DETECTIVES, that sheep are smart enough to solve a crime.
Fun fact: Not surprisingly, sheep are leery of people who have been to Epstein’s island.
The class barriers come into play…sheep attacks are for the scum among The Poors.
Todd, yet The Poor keep voting for Trump and his political minions!
Well, those among the Poors, as Drumpf probably actually thinks of them, who would like to be the kind of abusive scum Drumpf is (as are too many of his enablers in public life). Not too sure that anyone else among the disadvantaged actually votes for him, given everything…he only wins when the Democrats demonstrate a desire to tack heavily to the center right and/or show a cluelessness in how to conduct presidential succession that alienates their natural base even further…and said base sits on their voting hands.
At least so far.
Todd, the Democrats need to reach out to younger voters and offer candidates that speak to their concerns.
Steve Schmidt, nothing like a leftist, issued this after Thomas Massie’s loss in his reelection primary: https://steveschmidt.substack.com/p/massies-sin-defying-the-king
Todd, Massie’s fate was sealed by the record amount of money funneled into that race. Trump’s Retribution Campaign continues…
Jerry, I didn’t know there was a flock of sheep on Epstein’s Island! I just know Epstein was a baaaaaaad man.
I’m looking forward to this. I have the book but haven’t read it. The first time I saw the ad for it I laughed very loudly ALL the way through it. Blondie. Larry’s dog came over to check on me.
Maggie, there’s humor in THE SHEEP DETECTIVES but also some moving moments…
I would like to see this but I am betting it will have to be alone.
Patti, THE SHEEP DETECTIVES is the best movie I’ve seen in 2026 so far!